At the moment Twitter’s web interface is only available in four languages – English, Japanese, French and Spanish. Also on the way now are Italian and German.
So Twitter Inc have decided to increase support for the world’s languages, which is an excellent move. They’ll be asking users to collaborate on translating the interface, which again is good. The language community, made up of fluent users and some professional translators, knows best. Then everyone wins.
Twitter Inc haven’t said exactly how they’ll choose the next languages. But we can ask for Welsh. Here’s how.
- Go to http://twitter.com/translate
- Click the link “Sign up with your username and language”.
- Type your Twitter username.
- Select “Welsh” from the list.
It doesn’t matter if you’re a Welsh speaker or not. Welsh can belong to everyone!
I’m calling it a “vote”. You might as well use your vote for a language you’d like to see supported, even if you’re not a speaker.
Let’s not wait months and months for Welsh to get support – we can ask now. If they receive a high number of requests, it may spur them into offering Welsh.
Facebook made a similar move a while back. The whole thing was a game, with scores and a leaderboard for contributions. This resulted in a very rapid translation, completed in around three or four weeks as I recall. Twitter will be even quicker, I think we’ll do it in mere days.
In fact, Welsh was among the first languages to be supported by Facebook. This was mainly because there was a lot of demand expressed noisily, via a group.
“The squeaky hinge gets the grease.”
7 Comments
An interesting idea to se an offer of support as a ‘vote’. Ok, I’ve voted; but I don’t imagine I’ll really be able to help much!
Nonetheless, a Welsh speaking friend of mine maintains that Cymru is an inclusive term and is not based on birth or parentage. As such, maybe even I can claim to be Welsh, even if it’s only on the strength of living in Cariff for more than 20 years…
Yes, climb aboard.
As well as you and me, there’s Dafydd Wigley (former leader of Plaid Cymru, widely regarded as Welsh although born in Derby, England).
There are probably loads of examples of Cymry (referring to people) who were born elsewere.
That’s about geography and nations. Language is a separate but possibly related issue.
Anyone can learn the language of course.
And the reason I wrote this in English is because it would be understood by people who might want to show some goodwill to Cymraeg or celebrate it.
When I play a Jacques Dutronc or Serge Gainsbourg record – at home or while DJing – I am in some way celebrating the existence of the French language. Even though I’m not fluent in French. It’s the same thing. Life’s rich tapestry and all that.
At first I thought “this is sweet. but probably many more languages *need* support first.”
Then you said this, “When I play a Jacques Dutronc or Serge Gainsbourg record…” and my heart grew three sizes that moment. I’m in.
Diolch am hyn Carl, wedi “pleidleisio”.
Haia, dwi ddim yn cael Cymraeg ar y drop-down. Be dwi’n wneud yn wrong?
Andy, gallet ti dewis “Welsh” yna. Diolch!
Hwre! Wedi ffeindio fe o’r diwedd. Am ryw reswm dim ond Saesneg a Japaneaidd oedd ar y drop-down; ond oedd ‘Welsh’ ar y drop-down fan hyn: http://twitter.com/translate#translate_signup
Diolch eto Carl